Travel: Calgary, Canada

Calgary, Canada

The City of Calgary is located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in southwestern Alberta. It is the largest city in the province, offering visitors two exciting worlds - stimulating big city life and wilderness adventure.

Distance between Calgary and:

• Lethbridge  216 km
• Pincher Creek  211 km
• Medicine Hat  293 km
• Banff  128 km
• Red Deer  145 km
• Edmonton  294 km
• Lloydminster  519 km
• Jasper  412 km
• Grande Prairie  720 km
• Fort McMurray  733 km

Calgary operates on Mountain Time. Mountain Standard Time (MST), which is observed from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April, is Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) minus 7 hours. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT), which is observed from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October, is UTC minus 6 hours.

Weather-wise, summer days in Calgary are normally warm with high temperatures in June, July and August averaging 17C to 23C. Evenings are cooler (7C to 10C) because of Calgary's proximity to the mountains. By comparison, a summer day in Drumheller, Alberta is often very hot and dry, approximating desert-like conditions. A summer day in the mountains can be hot but the evenings are always cool.

Calgary sees its greatest amount of rain during the spring and summer. June and July are the city's wettest months with 70mm to 77mm normally falling.

As for winter precipitation, the mountain areas near Calgary receive significant amounts of snow while Calgary itself normally sees only a moderate snowfall - less than 20cm in the months of December, January and February. Daytime temperatures during these winter months are normally at or below 0C while evening temperatures drop to a frigid -11C to -15C.

Meantime, a unique phenomenon called a Chinook can transform Calgary from frosty to toasty in a matter of a day, even in winter. A Chinook is a warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, sometimes raising the temperature more than 20 degrees.

What to wear:

• Summer - Pack light clothing, a sweater, light jacket and an umbrella if you're staying within the city. If you're going to be in the mountains, pack good hiking shoes or boots and warm clothing that can be layered.
• Spring and fall - Weather during these in-between seasons can be unpredictable. Pack a warm jacket and clothing that can be layered.
• Winter - Pack a warm coat, boots, gloves, scarf and a hat. If you plan on skiing, be sure to bring your skiwear.

Calgary Attractions:

• Canada Olympic Park - Site of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.
• Calgary Tower - Offers breathtaking views of the City of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains.
• The Calgary Stampede - The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, occurring every July for 10 days.
• CFL Football - Calgary Stampeders
• NHL Hockey - Calgary Flames
• Calaway Park - Western Canada's largest outdoor family amusement park.
• Calgary Science Centre
• Calgary Zoo
• Fort Calgary - Experience life in Calgary from 1875 to 1940.
• Glenbow Museum - Western Canada's largest museum.
• Heritage Park - Experience the sights and sounds of life at the turn of the century.
• Spaceport - Experience space, flight and high-tech communications in this 5,800 square foot interactive area.

What to know before you go!

Current Condition
	-6°C / 20°F

Climatology:
Calgary weather stats

Time Zone:
Mountain Time

Language:
English, French

Currency:
Canadian Dollar

Some information courtesy of the Consular Affairs Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

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